Following last winters epic problems with the water system in the loft freezing and causing extensive flooding, the committee took a decision to have a new water system installed that would enable all plumbing to be removed from the loft. The Kendal company Arbco was selected to carry out this task, and during the second week in September they duly installed a new pressurized system in time for the working weekend.

A successful working weekend was enjoyed by 22 members, with 18 stopping on Saturday evening for the communal meal. The weather held up and many outdoor and indoor jobs were completed. Beside the routine cleaning and other jobs, the main tasks completed were -
- Removal of all pipe work and tanks from the loft made redundant by the new system - see above.
- Laying of insulation in the loft.
- Burning-off the old paintwork from window frames, rubbing down, and staining
- Removal of boulders on the fire escape route
- Completion of the fitting of the replacement stove in the large dormitory, including a guard
- Completion of the "Time Team" excavation work including the stabilization of the surrounding walls.

Below left shows the window burning-off underway, and below right the burning-off still underway whilst other members have another break.

Below left: The large dormitory has been without a stove for many months now, but Mark managed to procure one from e-Bay for only £140. Walter competed its installation including the fitting of a guard, and its now up and running, or should that be burning.
Below right: Mick and Roger contemplate what to do with the two large water tanks and pipe work removed from the loft.

During the March 2011 working weekend, a step, entrance and the start of a cobbled floor were revealed. Subsequent work uncovered what the NT confirmed was a cow house/byre/shippon.
The excavation work was more or less completed during this working weekend. What remains is to tidy-up the site and record it for posterity through photography and a scaled plan. The Trust would then like to see it covered over with sand to protect it from weathering, and the clubs plan is to probably follow that with the erection of a shed on the site.

The two photos below show the current state of the site. The side wall that had previously collapsed on the right of the entrance (shown as the wall facing in the photo below left) was stabilized by Frank and Matthew, and the front walls on the left and right of the entrance were rebuilt by a team that included Frank, Peter, Matthew, and Gary.

The entrance has a step of three stones side by side followed by a door lintel the full width of the doorway. This lintel has a recess at each end to hold a door hinge, and possibly a hole in the centre indicating a double door. A central cobbled aisle runs across the building to the far wall, and to the right is a cobbled area where animals would have been tethered, dropping their manure into the central aisle to enable cleaning. The depth of this stall area looks small compared with a modern byre, but animals in those days would have been much smaller than current. On the left of the central aisle is another cobbled area (though some of this has been destroyed over the years) probably replicating that on the right and extending as far as the metal shed where there is large stone that was probably part of the wall separating the shippon area from the rest of the building.

Led by Roger in place of Mike who was poorly, seven members had a good day out walking up the delightful rocks of Little Stand to the Crinkles, returning by Gaitscale Beck.

Rights shows the start, with from left to right: Roger, Val, Clare, Frank, Sue, Tony, with Mick taking the photo.

Looking up the valley to Threshwaite Mouth.

Around Park Fell Head, with the Stony Cove Pike behind

Sue crossing the beck, with help from Tony, whilst Frank watches and Val prepares to cross.

From left to right - Sue, Tony, Colin, Roger (behind), Frank, Hugh, Val, and David, with Sally the dog in front and Norman behind the camera.

On the way back down the valley at the end of a shower.

A stop on the way back - in sunshine at last!